20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Chimps, boating and the savannah all in one
I visited Uganda with Lake Kitandara Tours for just over two weeks. We had a private vehicle and our driver/guide, Matia, was fantastic!
We stayed at Hippo Hill Camp and Ishasha Wilderness Camp during our time in Queen Elizabeth NP. We also got chance to visit Mweya Safari Lodge and Katara Lodge. Personally I prefer the likes of Ishasha Wilderness Camp, for it's laid back bush camp atmosphere (with luxury little touches) but seeing other camps I understand Uganda offers a range to suit many safari goers from honeymooners to families.
Food was always good and plentiful, all western fare. Cheaper accommodations produced simpler food but still tasty.
The highlight of our time in Queen Elizabeth was seeing tree climbing lions in Ishasha (after a long time searching!); meeting chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge - and having a face off with one of the males!; listening to hippos around our tent as we slept and having an amazing birding experience on the Kazinga Channel.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Uganda by originalribenababy
Give me Uganda any day! There is something so magical about it compared to the likes of Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa. You feel as though you are part of a secret when you are there, like you are the first discoverers - but with the added bonus of wonderful guides and hosts and great accommodation to stay in.
The only downside was driving distances - but I loved watching the country from the window anyway. Who needs to pay a masseuse when a 'bush massage' is included?!
It's like being on a really wonderful and special adventure.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lake Kitandara Tours & Travel by originalribenababy
Friendly Lodges, amazing guide (Matia), great staff to deal with your requests and they were helpful and flexible when we made a last minute change to our trip while we were on the ground. Great value for money and a real passion for the wildlife of Uganda.
Simply amazing
We had an amazing time there, were there for only one night en route to CKGR. But it's just a stunning place. Already planning on going back there.
MR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Tsavo East National Park by Carlos Oliveira
A park that is not so crowed and where it is possible to enjoy wildlife experiences.
MR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Discovering a high value safari in a wonderful place
A special Kenyan site where you have a good change to see a lot of wildlife. The Reserve has good activities and an adequate format of accommodations. The scenery is gorgeous, with such a wide variety of landscapes.
A wonderful experience.
We designed a safari for almost a year. East and West Tsavo seemed like a good option, so we booked trips for six months prior to departure. We spent the rest of our vacation in Mombasa.
The three-day safari surpassed all expectations. Lodges were excellent. It was strange to see all the exotic animals that walked past our bedroom window.
Guide / driver was excellent to find the animals. The first night we stayed at Voi Safari Lodge and the other at Ngulia Safari Lodge. I took about 800 photos and five hours of video.
I fell in love with Africa, I will return back there.
An Authentic, Accessible Experience
I was greatly impressed by the wildlife and scenery of Tsavo National Park. I was even more impressed by the accessibility.
As a working professional, my vacation days are limited. I had booked a week at a beach resort in Mombasa, intending nothing more than to escape the New York winter for a tropical beach while putting another country under my well-traveled belt. Going on safari was almost an afterthought.
After two days of beach, beer and sun, I decided to check out the wildlife. I asked the reception at my youth hostel for a safari recommendation. After one phone call on a borrowed cell phone and one taxi ride into downtown Mombasa to pay the fee (they took American Express) I was booked for an overnight Safari at Tsavo National Park.
We left Mombasa early in the morning, arriving at our hotel for lunch. I stayed at the Voi Wildlife Lodge, which I highly recommend! It combines modern amenities (including air conditioning: a pleasant luxury for Europeans but an absolute must for Americans) with incredible scenery. There are several swimming pools and an observation deck that stretches approximately 50m into the park and overlooks a watering hole.
The safari itself was very memorable. We saw elephants, giraffes, baboons, wildebeest, gazelles, dik diks, cheetahs, and we even saw a lioness in the morning! Our guide was a native Kenyan who spoke perfect English and what sounded to me like very good German. It rained, very briefly, as we were driving from Mombasa to Tsavo. Not a lot, but just enough for me to "Bless the rains down in Africa" as the song goes. Aside from that one drizzle the weather was invariably sunny and warm: 88 degrees for Americans, just under 30 for Europeans.
Tsavo was incredible, I can't emphasize that enough, but the biggest draw for me was the easy accessibility from both Mombasa and Nairobi. If I'd stayed longer, I would have included several other parks in addition to Tsavo. I would have liked to venture into Tanzania and perhaps checked out the island of Zanzibar. Sadly, I have a limited number of vacation days and a lot of world left to explore...
MR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Kenya by Carlos Oliveira
Kenya is in reality a marvelous place to enjoy safaris.